Egypt's GASC buys 300,000T Russian, Romanian wheat

Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, has bought 300,000 tonnes of Russian and Romanian wheat for two shipments on October 21-31 and November 1-10 on a free on board basis, the main government wheat buyer said on Thursday.

Nomani Nomani, vice chairman of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), gave the following breakdown of the purchases:

-- 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Louis Dreyfus at $294.44 per tonne with freight costs of $16.18 for the October 21-31 shipment

-- 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Aston at $294.94 per tonne with freight costs of $16.25 for the October 21-31 shipment

-- 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Viterra at $295 per tonne with freight costs of $16.48 for the October 21-31 shipment

-- 60,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat from Toepfer at $288.98 per tonne with freight costs of $15.10 for the November 1-10 shipment

-- 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Nidera at $294.69 per tonne with freight costs of $15.60 for the November 1-10 shipment

Since the start of the 2011/12 fiscal year on July 1, GASC has purchased 1.56 million tonnes of Russian wheat and 180,000 tonnes of Romanian wheat.

In the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2011, GASC purchased some 5.58 million tonnes of French, US, Canadian, Australian and Argentine wheat.

Traders said the following bids were made in tonnes with dollar price per tonne on an FOB basis unless stated otherwise:

For the October 21-31 shipment:

* Invivo 60,000 French wheat at $308.87 from one port

* Glencore 60,000 French wheat at $309.89 from one port and 60,000 Russian wheat at $301

* Viterra 60,000 French wheat at $309 from one port or 60,000 Russian wheat at $295

* Louis Dreyfus 60,000 Russian wheat at $294.44

* Cargill 60,000 Australian wheat at $303 from two ports

* Aston 60,000 Russian wheat $294.94

* Toepfer 60,000 German wheat at $310 from one port and 60,000 Soft Red Winter at $313.15 U.S. Gulf

* Lecureur 60,000 French wheat at $312 from two ports

For the November 1-10 shipment:

* Toepfer 60,000 Romanian wheat at $288.98 and 60 Soft Red Winter wheat at $314.95 U.S.Gulf

* Aston 60,000 Russian wheat at $297.61

* Invivo 60,000 French wheat at $312.90 from two ports

* Glencore 60,000 Russian wheat at $303 and 60,000 French wheat at $309.89, from two ports

* Viterra 60,000 French wheat at $310 from one port or 60,000 Russian wheat at $297

* Louis Dreyfus 60,000 Russian wheat at $298.44

* Cargill 60,000 Russian wheat at $301.50 and 60,000 French wheat at $310 from two ports

* Venus 60,000 Soft Red Winter wheat at $305.52

* Granit 60,000 French wheat at $304.80 from two ports

* Nidera 60,000 Russian wheat at $294.69